Make Ahead Tailgating Menu

Short on time? No worries. We’ve included simple-to-make recipes that you can prepare the night before the big game, so getting ready is a breeze. Pack two coolers if traveling, one for drinks and one for food. Deck out a portable table in your team’s colors with disposable goods such as napkins, plates, cups, and plastic utensils. By keeping it manageable, everyone’s a winner.

Tailgating Menus

Kick off the season with our simple, crowd-pleasing menus for tailgating.

If you’re going to cook at a tailgate, you’ve got to come prepared. Just like playing the game itself, tailgating food requires some strategy. It should be portable, easy to prepare (in all sorts of conditions—including stadium parking lots), make enough to feed a crowd, and most importantly taste great. Even if you set up a buffet station decked out in your favorite team’s colors, tailgating food shouldn’t be fussy—it’s “roll up your sleeves and dig in” fare. With all that in mind, we put together some exciting yet easy tailgating menus featuring some of our most popular game day recipes. Each tailgating menu is tailored for your style of entertaining. If you’re short on time, try our make-ahead menu with Mini Cajun Burgers, Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs, and three types of dip that can be assembled in advance. If it’s your first time hosting a tailgate, we have an easy, no-fail menu with Mini Muffalettas, Cajun Lemonade, a cheese spread, and more. We even have a South-meets-Southwest themed menu with Chicken Enchiladas, Southwestern Shrimp, and Pecan Pralines. Whatever tailgating dishes you choose, it’s a win-win!